Psalms 25:1-11

1 To you, O Lord, my soul is lifted up.

2 O my God, I have put my faith in you, let me not be shamed; let not my haters be glorying over me.

3 Let no servant of yours be put to shame; may those be shamed who are false without cause.

4 Make your steps clear to me, O Lord; give me knowledge of your ways.

5 Be my guide and teacher in the true way; for you are the God of my salvation; I am waiting for your word all the day.

6 O Lord, keep in mind your pity and your mercies; for they have been from the earliest times.

7 Do not keep in mind my sins when I was young, or my wrongdoing: let your memory of me be full of mercy, O Lord, because of your righteousness.

8 Good and upright is the Lord: so he will be the teacher of sinners in the way.

9 He will be an upright guide to the poor in spirit: he will make his way clear to them.

10 All the ways of the Lord are mercy and good faith for those who keep his agreement and his witness.

11 Because of your name, O Lord, let me have forgiveness for my sin, which is very great.

Psalms 25:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 25

\\<<[A Psalm] of David>>\\. This is the first of the psalms which is written in an alphabetical order, or in which the first word of every verse begins with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in order, though it is not strictly and regularly observed; the reason of this manner of writing is not very obvious; the {r} Jews confess their ignorance of it; it may be to engage the attention to what is said, or to assist the memory in laying it up, and retaining it there. The occasion of the psalm seems to be the troubles David was in on account of an unnatural rebellion raised against him by some of his subjects, at the head of which was his own son Absalom; he speaks of himself as in a net, and in great affliction, distress, and trouble, by reason of his enemies, Ps 25:15-18; and as being brought to a sense of his former sins, for which he desires pardon, Ps 25:7,11. {r} Kimchi in loc.